Author(s): Bodji Iridjé Marcelle, Coulibaly Lèfoungognon, Soro Mamadou and N’ZI Konan Gervais

Abstract: Crabs, crustaceans of the order Decapoda, play an economic, dietary, bioecological, scientific and health role. Despite their important roles and their omnipresence in semi-terrestrial and aquatic environments, crabs receive less attention than other groups that are traditionally better studied, such as fish and shrimp. They have been largely neglected and few new studies have been conducted on them. Consequently, the present study focused on characterising the feeding ecology and reproductive biology of Liberonautes latidactylus in the shallows of the Adzopé department (Côte d'Ivoire). A total of 60 crab specimens, comprising 23 females and 37 males, were captured by hand and pitfall trapping from January to June 2024. The study of reproductive biology showed that the determined condition factor (K = 34%) indicates that environmental conditions are favourable for its development and that the recorded sex ratio 1.60 (M/F) favours males. Chi-square test revealed no significant difference sex ratio between seasons (?² = 0.33; p = 0.56 ? 0.05). The feeding ecology of Liberonautes latidactylus revealed a species with a phytophagous diet with omnivorous tendencies. Macrophytes (IRA = 51.97%) ranked in the category of primary prey. Zooplankton (IRA = 18.49%) and Molluscs (IRA = 11.21%) are secondary prey. Worms (IRA = 8.16%) and nsects (IRA = 5.51%) were classified as accessory prey. Spearman's correlation test based on Relative Importance of Food (IRA) revealed that the food spectrum is not similar in males and females (p = 0.77 ? 0.05). These results constitute preliminary data that could serve as a basis for further studies. They could be used as a reference in the sustainable management and captive breeding of this species.

DOI: 10.22271/fish.2025.v13.i6a.3172

Pages: 01-08  |  67 Views  36 Downloads

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